ST. LOUIS, MO – (Monday, January 19, 2009) – In the second draft for the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), former Richmond Kickers Destiny defender Nikki Krzysik and forward Claire Zimmeck were among 41 W-League players drafted by the seven clubs in the 10-round draft. A second round pick, 13th overall, Krzysik was selected by the Chicago Red Stars while Zimmeck was drafted in the ninth round, 63rd overall by the Washington Freedom.
The 2004 W-League U19 Player of the Year, Krzysik made six appearances with the Destiny in 2008, leading the Richmond defensive unit to consecutive shutouts to finish the season. An active member of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team, Krzysik helped lead the U.S. team to their 10th Nordic Cup title last summer and was an integral component of the U.S. team that won the 2006 CONCACAF U-20 Final Women’s Qualifying Tournament in Mexico. The 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year started all 23 games played and notched three goals and three assists for nine points, while contributing to nine shutouts during her senior year at UVA. A two-time All-American and First Team All-ACC honoree, Krzysik was a part of the defensive unit that led the nation in goals against average (0.40) and set a school record with 15 shutouts her junior year. Concluding her collegiate career with 89 appearances, the native of Clifton, New Jersey tallied seven goals and eight assists for 22 points overall and was one of 15 semifinalists for the 2008 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, presented to the top collegiate soccer player in the country.
Slated to graduate from the College of William & Mary in 2009, Zimmeck spent the 2008 W-League season with the Destiny. In just seven appearances, she finished tied for second on the team in scoring with one goal and five assists for seven points on the season. The native of Fairfax, VA completed her collegiate career with 57 goals and 12 assists, ranking among the Tribe’s all-time top-five in seven career categories, including the most match-winning goals with 25. A three-time All-American and two-time CAA Player of the Year, Zimmeck earned First Team All-Conference honors in 2008 after leading William & Mary to its third-straight regular season title, while notching a career-high six assists.
USL W-League players represented 24 of the 28 picks made on October 6th in the WPS General Draft, which consisted of four rounds of selections between the seven WPS clubs. Moreover, 18 of those 24 selections competed as recently as the 2008 W-League season. The 24 W-League players selected in the General Draft joined 10 that were selected in the WPS International Rights Draft September 24 and the 13 alumni that were originally assigned September 16 as part of the US Women’s National Team allocations.
WPS Draft recap with W-League experience [+]
